Sad to say goodbye, admits Quins wing

SEB Stegmann has thanked Harlequins for making him the player he is today after this week leaving for London Welsh.

The young wing was one of rugby's hottest prospects when he broke into the Quins side a few years back, but a serious knee injury saw him sidelined for the best part of two years.

Since returning to action last year, Stegmann's appearances have been fleeting due to the form of Ugo Monye and Tom Williams, and he jumped at the opportunity of first team rugby with Welsh.

He said: “I owe so much to Harlequins. I came through the ranks there and owe how I play and the player I am to them. It was sad to say goodbye.

“It was just down to not getting enough first team rugby, which was due to Quins' success. Tom and Ugo are great players, and it was a bit frustrating sitting behind them waiting for the chance to show what I can do.”

By moving early to Welsh, who he had signed for next season anyway, Stegmann swaps a possible LV= Cup winners medal for a relegation scrap.

He added: “I had to weight those options up. I was very excited about the fact I could be playing in the LV= Cup Final and even could be part of winning it, but if they were to get knocked out, I'd be back to not playing rugby again.

“Having been out for so long injured, I didn't want to spend much more time waiting in the wings, and it had fuelled my hunger for more rugby.”

Quins, minus Stegmann, will be looking to build on last Friday's 30-21 win at Sale Sharks when they take on Exeter Chiefs at The Stoop tomorrow.